WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 12/05/02

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[V/O-NAT] A traffic tie-up to beat them all. A line of headlights as far as one could see. But not a blue light, red light or uniformed officer to be found.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
No one died on 220 last night, though two fatalities were attributed to the weather.

[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=travis]
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Tonight in sports, freshman J-J Redick talks about his emerging leadership role for the third ranked team in the country, schedule changes for tomorrow's girls state tournament, and
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[VO-NAT]

Kevin Jones looks to go over 1,000 yards for the season Saturday in Miami.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Full fledged winter wonderland covers most of the east coast with cold temperatures expected into the weekend. Details and snow totals just ahead.
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[ANCHOR=Keith 3-Shot]

News 7 is next.
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[VO-NAT]

Last night's winter storm left behind more than just snow and ice.
It left two people dead and hundreds of stranded drivers wondering why no one came to help.
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[ANCHOR=Keith ]
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Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry. Shannon is off tonight.

[Salem-Death]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
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[TAPE#=02-39 TC1:24:08]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weater]
We start with the deadly turn taken by the storm last night in Salem. A fifty four year old Floyd County woman died there of exposure during the storm.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith/Richard NEWSROOM;]
Richard Lesko joins us with more. Keith, Carol Yvonne Dickerson was found dead shortly after six o'clock this morning by a construction worker,
[LIVE=Richard/FULL]
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and police say she had been there since last night.
Investigators are now trying to figure out what led her to an empty building instead of safety just a few yards away.

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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Perry Hypes/Construction Worker; :10]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :17]
[SUPER=01-Lt. R. E. Gray/Salem Police Department; :51]
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[OUT Q=I just think it's sad.]
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[SOT - 23:23:29]
[INQ=I just found a woman...]
((PERRY HYPES/CONSTRUCTION WORKER; I JUST FOUND A WOMAN HERE LYING ON HER LEFT SIDE, AND I REACHED DOWN TO SEE IF SHE HAD A PULSE AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE ONE. I RAN TO THE MOTEL AND CALLED 911.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUTQ=and called 911.]
Police say Carol Dickerson's car got stuck on a curb off of Keagy Road in Salem sometime during the storm. She then got out of her car, and walked about 50 yards to the empty Quantum Medical Building, and curled up beside a column near the entrance.
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[SOT - 23:22:09]
[INQ=It seemed like...]
((PERRY HYPES/CONSTRUCTION WORKER; IT SEEMED LIKE SHE TRIED TO GET IN THE DOOR, AND THERE WERE FOOTPRINTS ALL AROUND OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.))
[RUNS= 8]
[OUTQ=around outside the building.]
Dickerson's car was found just yards away from a hotel, and police are wondering why she didn't seek shelter there, instead of staying in the cold.
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[SOT - 1:43:16]
[INQ=It is possible...]
((LT. R.E. GRAY/SALEM CITY POLICE; IT IS POSSIBLE, WAS SHE SUFFERING FROM HYPOTHERMIA IT IS POSSIBLE SHE COULD HAVE BECOME CONFUSED. THAT'S ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF THAT CONDITION, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS IN HER MIND AT THE TIME. I JUST THINK IT'S SAD.))
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[OUTQ=I just think it's sad.]))
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[LIVE=Richard/FULL]
Police believe Carol Dickerson died of exposure in the cold and snow, but an autopsy will be performed tomorrow in hopes of finding out how she died,
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith/Richard NEWSROOM;]
and what led her to a vacant building instead of safety.

[Patrick-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
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The storm is also being blamed for the death of a 14 year old in Patrick County.
State Police say Matthew Dugger of Patrick Springs was killed yesterday on his way home from school.
Witnesses told police that the vehicle he was riding in skidded off a snow-covered road, ran into a creek and overturned.
Police say the female driver -- also a teenager -- crawled out of the wreckage with minor injuries.

[220-React]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
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Dozens of disabled vehicles, hundreds of people stranded for up to eight hours... and not a single emergency vehicle in sight.
That's what motorists on Route 220 in Roanoke County experienced last night.
When the wreckage cleared early this morning, it was still impossible to tell what went wrong.
Marya Jones takes a look.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Abandoned cars]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-John Griesenbeck/Stranded Motorist; :28 QUICK! His 2nd bite]
[SUPER=@Marya1; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/VDOT Spokeswoman; 1:30]
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[OUT Q=MJN7, Roanoke Co.]
(( Abandoned cars still line Route 220, where some motorists sat stranded for as many as 8 hours last night.
It may be much longer before any of them forgets the ordeal.
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[SOT 9:42:58 - 9:43:02]
((JOHN GRIESENBECK: I DIDN'T SEE ANY VDOT, I DIDN'T SEE ANY EMERGENCY VEHICLES, I DIDN'T SEE ANY POLICE. )) [RUNS:04]
John Griesenbeck was stuck in this traffic for SIX HOURS, just one mile away from his home in Roanoke County.
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[SOT 9:44:42 - :49]
(( LUCKILY, I FUELED UP. OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS. THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO PUSHED THEIR CARS OFF TO THE SIDE AND WALKED.)) [RUNS:07]
One after another, cars and tractor-trailers slid on the snow, blocking both southbound lanes of 220 near Graham's Curve.
Griesenbeck says he knows motorists bear much of the blame, but he wishes Roanoke County authorities had done more to warn and assist them.
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[SOT 9:46:17]
(( THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BLAME BUT I THOUGHT ROANOKE COUNTY LET US DOWN. ESPECIALLY AFTER I CALLED DISPATCH AND I ASKED THEM WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO AND THEY COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ANSWER AND FINALLY HUNG UP ON ME. )) [RUNS:09]
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[SU 9:41:30 - :41] ((MARYA JONES/NEWS-7: ROANOKE COUNTY POLICE SAY THEY WERE STUCK IN THE TRAFFIC TOO AND HAD TO GIVE PRIORITY TO ACCIDENTS WITH INJURIES. THEY SAY THEY COULDN'T RETURN TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO RESCUE CARS THAT GOT STUCK HERE ON 220.)) [RUNS:11]
Motorists had to come up with their own ways to get things moving.
State police DON'T work that part of 220.
Franklin County says it could do little to help with Roanoke County's mess.
And VDOT says it offers assistance to stranded motorists IF and WHEN local law enforcement asks them.
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[SOT 10:45]
((LAURA BULLOCK/VDOT SPOKESWOMAN: IT JUST ALL HAPPENED AT ONCE. IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE. WE DON'T SEE IT VERY OFTEN. I KNOW THAT'S NO CONSOLATION TO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE OUT THERE FOR HOURS. )) [RUNS:06]
Franklin County's Sheriff says he plans to work with Roanoke County police to find a way to eliminate similar back-ups down the road.
But MOST officials are saying: Better luck next time.
Marya Jones, News-7, Roanoke County.))

[Roanoke-WX]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
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Road crews are playing beat the clock as they continue to clear highways and streets before they freeze again.
Officials say cold temperatures are their biggest battle at this hour.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Rachel /Microwave;]

Rachel Cannon has more on their progress tonight.
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[SUPER=05-Roanoke]
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(Rollcue: is yet to be done.)
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[IN Q=NATS driving and scraping]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jason Bond/VDOT Spokesman; ::14]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :42]
[SUPER=01-Wanda Tompkins/Air Traveler; :55]
[SUPER=01-Jackie Shuck/Roanoke Regional Airport; 1:11]
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[OUT Q=THE RIGHT PLACE.]
((NATS 16:16:14 "driving and scraping." There were few cars on the roads today and that was only if you could make it out of your neighborhood. Official say the secondary roads are second on V-DOT's list.
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[SOT 16:17:23]
[IN Q=IT MAY]
((JASON BOND/V-DOT SPOKESMAN; IT MAY BE WELL INTO THE EVENING OVERNIGHT OR EVEN TOMORROW BEFORE WE CAN EVEN GET TO THESE SECONDARY ROADS ))
[OUT Q=roads]
Their focus has been on heavily traveled spots like Interstates and primary roads. Condition have been improving all day as drivers work 12-hours shifts, but officials warn they're still slick.
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[SOT 16:17:37]
[IN Q=THERE IS]
((THERE IS STILL A POSSIBILITY WITH THESE LOW TEMPERATURES THERE'S GOING TO REMAINS A LOT IF ICY SNOW ALONG THE ROADWAY A LAYER OF IT ALONG THESE ROADWAYS EVEN IF WE DO GET THESE PLOWS OUT THERE. ))
[OUT Q=OUT THERE.]
NATS "SHOVELING" While local residents continue to dig themselves out of the wintry mix, Wanda Tompkins is warm at Roanoke Regional Airport but frustrated from waiting for her flight to take off.
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[SOT 16:13:58]
[IN Q=if it]
((WANDA TOMPKINS/AIR TRAVELER; IF IT DON'T I'M GOING HOME I'M NOT SITTING OUT HERE ALL DAY. ))
[OUT Q=ALL DAY.]
The problem say officials, is not the weather here but the conditions at the destinations. The storm moved north, making flight times hard to meet.
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[SOT 16:15:47]
[IN Q=IT WILL]
((IT WILL TAKE FOR US TO GET BACK TO NORMAL ONLY BECAUSE A NUMBER OF FLIGHTS WERE CANCELED LAST NIGHT SO THE PLANES AREN'T POSITIONED IN THE RIGHT PLACE.))
[OUT Q=NIGHT.].))
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
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Still ahead on News 7 at Six, more storm reports from around Southwest and Central Virginia.
An update on two Christmas parades scheduled for tonight.
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[VO-NAT]

Plus a candle may be to blame for the fire that destroyed an area home.
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[NRV-Weather]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-37 TC1:58:50]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weater]

The day after a storm means it's cleanup time for most places.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

In Montgomery County, the roads were covered in plows, instead of snow.
By Noon, V-DOT trucks were able to clear away the snow and ice off most of the main roads.
But, officials say it will be awhile before they can finish the ones less traveled.
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[SOT 58:16-58:26, 58:35-58:39]
[COVER BETWEEN BITES!!!]
[IN Q=especially in some]
((DAVID BURKE: ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THESE BACK ROADS THAT ARE GRAVEL ROADS, THAT ARE HARD TO GET TO AND THE SNOW CAN ONLY SALT STREETS THAT HAVE ASPHALT 58:26)) ((SO IT'LL BE AWHILE BEFORE ALL OF THE SNOW AND ICE IS OFF SOME OF THOSE BACK ROADS. 58:39))
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[OUT Q=back roads]
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[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile, many businesses, like the New River Valley Mall opened late today to clear-out their parking lots.
The storm dropped five to 12-inches of snow in some parts of Montgomery County and throughout the New River Valley.

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[L'Burg-Weather]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Authorities in Central Virginia say a lack of drivers on the road helped keep things fairly quiet.
Lynchburg and the surrounding counties picked up about four inches of snow, sleet and freezing rain.
The Lynchburg airport was able to re-open early this afternoon, but slowdowns at other regional airports created some problems.
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[Danville-Weather]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]

In southside, it wasn't snow but ice that caused problems.
The storm dropped about three inches of snow before turning over to sleet and freezing rain.
Danville's Public Works Department worked through the night to clear the main roadways.
Crews say it could be another day before they hit the residential streets.
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[SOT 13:28]
[IN Q=It all depends]
((STEVE BOHANNON/DANVILLE PUBLIC WORKS: IT ALL DEPENDS, AS LONG AS WE GET PRECIPITATION WE GOING TO STAY ON THE PRIMARY TO KEEP THOSE OPEN, AFTER THE PRECIPITATION STOPS WE'LL GO TO PRIMARY TO SECONDARIES TO RESIDENTIALS.))
[SUPER=01-Steve Bohannon/Danville Public Works; ]
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[OUTQ=secondary's to residential.]
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[VO-NAT]

Authorities in Danville, Pittsylvania, Halifax, and Henry Counties reported just minor accidents throughout the day.
There were no reports of any power outtages in the region.
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[Parades]

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[WIPE TO PINNACLE]

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[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD]
Two communities called off their Christmas parades scheduled for tonight.
Vinton's parade has been rescheduled for Saturday at Noon.
Buena Vista's parade will now take place next Thursday night at Seven o-clock.
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[Winter-Safety]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
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[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=02-42 TC1:46:19]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weater]

Accidents aren't the only danger in winter weather, the frigid temperatures can also put your health at risk.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Frostbite can set in if you're outside longer than an hour in below freezing temperatures. If fingers or toes start to go numb that's a warning sign.
And if you lose too much body heat hypothermia can set in.
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[SOT35:37]
[IN Q=Your body temperature]
((DR. SYDNEY VAIL/CARILION DIR. OF TRAUMA; YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE STARTS TO REDUCE. YOU SWEATED SO MUCH AND WIND AND WIND CHILL FACTOR CAN TAKE THE HEAT AWAY FROM YOUR BODY AND THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Sydney Vail/Carilion Dir. of Trauma]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=and that's very dangerous.]
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[VO-NAT]

You should also be careful not to over exert yourself. Doctor Vail does not advise shoveling snow if you have any type of heart condition.
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[SOT36:31]
[IN Q=When they're out there]
((WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE SHOVELING OR PUSHING A CAR THEY'RE USING EXTRA ENERGY AND THAT IS PUTTING AN ADDITIONAL STRESS ON YOUR HEART MORE THAN THE NORMAL NEEDS THAT THE BODY HAS TO HAVE))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=has to have]
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[VO-NAT]

And remember to stay warm by wearing several layers of loose-fitting clothing.
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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
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Investors sold on worries that disappointing retail sales and United Airlines' threat of bankruptcy could hurt corporate profits. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
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[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/114.57/8623.28/y/19.57/1410.78;]

The DOW dropped 115 points.
NASDAQ fell 20.
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[Botetourt-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-41 TC1:06:03]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

A log home in Botetourt County burned this afternoon. Firefighters believe a candle was to blame.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

The home is located on Dry Branch Road near Arcadia. Members of the family discovered the blaze and tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher, but were unsuccessful. They managed to escape without injury.
Most of the damage was contained to the interior of the house, but fire officials believe the home will be declared a total loss.
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[Pledge]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
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[WRITER=khu]
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Ex- Roanoke Police Officer Fred Pledge has lost the appeal of his robbery conviction.
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[V/O-NAT SOT]
Pledge pled guilty last year to racketeering, accepting kick-backs, bribes and protection pay-offs. While the former patrolman admitted to taking money from people, he insisted it did not amount to robbery.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
The federal appeals court in Richmond disagreed and upheld the robbery conviction.

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=travis]
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Coming up, Kevin Jones thinks the Hokies ground game could come up big in Miami, we'll look at some basketball schedule changes from around the area, plus
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[VO-NAT]

revisit J-J Redick, whose fast start at Duke has been a hair raising experience for the freshman.
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[S-JJ]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-136 11:11]
[GRAPHIC=JJ Redick]

J.J. Redick continues to make national waves on the college basketball scene. He's Duke's leading scorer. But Steve Mason says occupying the spotlight is one goal the former Cave Spring star has never been shooting for.
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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Greensboro, NC/Ohio State vs. Duke; :00]
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[SUPER=01-Shavlik Randolph/Duke Freshman Forward; 1:40]
[SUPER=01-Dahntay Jones/Duke Senior Guard; 1:51]
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((J.J. Redick is averaging 17.3 points a game, the next closest Duke scorer is ACC pre season player of the year selection Chris Duhon who is rattling off five fewer points a contest. Duhon has also been designated the Blue Devils floor general but Redick has also assumed a major leadership role. ((:)) All of the jobs that go with being a team leader come easily for Redick, but off the floor, J.J. took steps before his arrival and during the early part of this season to go unnoticed at Duke. ((STEVE MASON:)) ((:))
But the close shave look would soon return thanks to some inspiration from his past. ((:))
Through four battles, the warrior is second on the team in steals with seven and is shooting 42 percent from three point land ((:)) ((:))
Redick and his third ranked Blue Devils next take on Michigan Saturday in Durham. Steve Mason News 7 sports.))

[S-Sched]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6m]
[WRITER=twe]
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[GRAPHIC=VHSL]

Because of the snow, we have some schedule changes to make you aware of. The slate for tomorrow's state girls basketball semfinals in Salem has been changed just a bit. The afternoon session will now get underway at 3 o'clock with Northside taking on Blacksburg. The other Group AA contest between Robert E. Lee and Park View Sterling will now tip at 5pm. That allows the folks from Park View a little extra travel time from Manassas due to the weather.
As far as the night session goes, that remains the same. James Monroe and Altavista will play in the opener at 7, followed by Glenvar and JJ Kelly in the nightcap.

[S-Maroons]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
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[GRAPHIC=ODAC or basketball]

The weather has also forced Roanoke college to postpone its men's basketball game with Emory and Henry for a second straight day. The Maroons, who were scheduled to play the Wasps tonight, will now battle Emory and Henry tomorrow at five PM at the Roanoke College Bast Center.

[S-Football]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-134 TC1150]
[GRAPHIC=Va Tech]

The Virginia Tech Hokies will leave chilly Blacksburg tomorrow for warmer temperatures in South Florida. Miami is an 18 and a half point favorite to beat Tech, but Kevin Jones says all the pressure is on the Hurricanes.
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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Jones/Needs 165 Yards to Reach 1,000; :00]
[RUNS=15:]
[OUT Q=play our best."]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/2001 Miami vs. Virginia Tech game;]

Jones needs just 165 yards to break a thousand this season, and the sophomore likes his chances considering he ran for a buck 60 against the Canes last season in Blacksburg.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=against their defense."]
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